Stick placer apparatus



Nov. 14, 1967 w, H. ZUERCHER STICK PLACER APPARATUS Filed Feb. 5, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet l WARREN H. ZUERGHER INVENTOR.

BY SM@ ATTORNEYS Nov. 14, 1967 W 'H. zUERcHr-:R

STICK PLACER APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 3, 1965 Nm wm WARREN H. ZUERCHER NVENTOR ATTORNEYS Nov. 14, 1967 w. H. ZUERCHER STICK PLACER APPARATUS 4 sheets-sheet 5 Filed Feb.' s. 1965 VII/IA. il 4 WARREN H. zuERcHER INVENTOR.

ATTORNE YS Nov. 14, 1967 w, H. zUERcHI-:R

STICK PLACER APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 5, 1965 WARREN H. ZUERGHER INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS United States Patent O 3,352,434 STICK PLACER APPARATUS Warren H. Znercher, Seattle, Wash., assignor to Stetson- Ross Machine Company, Inc., Seattle, Wash., a corporation of Washington Filed Feb. 3, 1965, Ser. No. 430,122 7 Claims. (Cl. 214-6) The present invention relates to an Iapparatus for depositing a stick or the like and more particularly to a novel apparatus for dispensing individual sticks or the like and accurately placing each stick at ya predetermined location. The present invention finds utility in such operations as lumber stacking or in any other operation wherein individual articles are formed into a stack with the necessity of utilizing cross-slats or stick as spacers or tie-ins for the stack.

In the past, most stick placing has been accomplished by hand which is very slow and time consuming. Although a number of different types of mechanical devices have been conceived for performing the stick placing operation, such devices usually involve complicated mechanical parts for gripping and moving the sticks. Such devices are not capable of placing the stick accurately but merely drop the sticks onto the stack being formed with no means being provided to control the positioning of the stick.

The present invention seeks to provide an improved stick placer apparatus wherein a constant feed of sticks or slats is provided from a removable cartridge and wherein the sticks are handled without the need of grasping or clasping the individual sticks which is the usual cause of mechanical failure in such devices. The present invention also provides a stick placer assembly wherein the stick is accurately positioned on a stack being formed by means which deposits the stick, one end at a time, instead of merely dropping or releasing the stick to fall where it may.

The primary object of the -present invention, is therefore, to provide an improved stick placer apparatus for automatically placing individual sticks or slats more rapidly and more accurately than heretofore possible.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a stick placer apparatus of the character described wherein individual sticks are continuously fed from a detachable cartridge and wherein the need for mechanical means for grasping individual sticks is eliminated.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a stick placer apparatus wherein each stick is moved in a horizontal plane to the desired position and deposited one end at a time at the proper location. l

Other more particular objects and advantages of the invention will, with the foregoing, appear and be -understood from the following description and claims, the invention consisting of the novel construction and adaptation and combination of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

Reference is now made to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view taken along lines 2 2 of FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is `a top plan view of the apparatus with the stick cartridge removed;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional detail taken along lines 4 4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view taken along lines 5 5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view taken along lines 6 6 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view taken lalong lines 7 7 of FIG. 3;

3,352,434 Patented Nov. 14, 1967 ICC FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view taken along lines 8 8 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged plan view of a portion of the device with certain parts removed for clarity; and

FIG. l0 is a fragmentary detail of the bottom portion of the stick cartridge.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference numerals indicate identical parts in the various views, a base plate 1, constituting a flat planar surface with a downwardly extending lip 2, is provided with a plurality of bracket means 3 for mounting on any suitable supporting structure above a stack 4 of articles such as lumber being formed. Likewise additional support may be provided by a similar bracket 5 attached to a support arm 6, the details of which will presently be described. With the brackets 3 and 5 being connected to a support structure, the base plate 1 and the remaining portion of the stick placer apparatus are suspended over the location at which a stick is to be placed as illustrated in FIG. 3.

Fixed to the top surface of the base plate 1 is a diagonally extending arm 7 which may be welded or otherwise fixed to the base plate 1. The arm 7 includes an L- shaped offset end member 8 which may be welded thereto or secured in any suitable fashion so as to be rigid with the ann 7. A bracket 9 fixed to the L-shaped member 8 is attached by bolts or the like 11 to one end of a hood or guard 12 so as to rigidly support that end of the guard. The opposite end of the guard 12 is supported by a structure presently to be described. g

The support arm 6 is connected to a bearing housing 13 the function of which will later be described in detail. Extending laterally from the support arm 6 is a first curved brace 14 which may be Welded or otherwise attached to the bottom of the support arm 6 Iand to one corner of the bearing housing 13 as illustrated most clearly in FIG. 9. The other end of the curved brace 14 carries a bearing sleeve 16 and the bearing housing 13. A second curved brace 18 which is oppositely directed from the brace 14 is also fixed to the bearing sleeve 16 and a corner of the bearing housing 13 so as to be rigid therewith as shown in FIGS. 3 and 9. The outer end of the brace 18 is welded to a vertical attaching plate 19 with the attaching plate 19 being bolted to a bracket structure 21 which supports the end of the guard or hood 12. The bracket may be attached to the hood by the bolts 22 as indicated in FIG. 3.

A vertical shaft 23 is journaled for rotation in the bearing assembly 24 carried by the bearing sleeve 16 as illustrated in FIG. S. The top end of the shaft 23 is fixed to a flat plate 26 which is rectangular in plan and has a rectangular elongated cutout portion 27 for receiv- 'ing the end of a stick to be deposited in a manner later to be described. A support tab 28 depends from the plate 26 at the inner end of the slot 27 and extends outwardly so as to provide a temporary support for the end of the slot or stick 29 indicated in dotted lines in FIG. 3. An upstanding angled guard 31 may be fixed to the top side of the plate 26 with the corner bracket 32 overlying the corner of the guard 31 so as to maintain the end of the stick 29 within the slot 27 of the plate. A pusher arm 33 extends outwardly from one corner of the plate 26 as illustrated in FIG. 3 and, in the unactuated position of the plate 26, extends along the arm 7. An additional retaining bracket 34 may also :be fixed to the curved brace 14 soV as to underlie the portion of the plate 26 adjacent the bearing sleeve 16 to provide an auxiliary support lfor the end of the slat 29 as will be understood as the specification progresses.

Mounted on the lower end of the shaft 23 is a crank arm 36 which is connected to rotate the shaft 23 4as indii otally attached to the crank arm 36 by means of the pivot pin 38 and extends to a drive wheel 39 with the rod 37 being pivotally connected off center to the wheel 39 by means of the pivot pin 41. The drive Wheel 39 includes a'vertically extending shaft 42 mounted for rotation in the bearing housing 13 by means of a bearing assembly 43 as illustrated in FIG. 5.`With this structure, rotation of the shaft 42 swings the plates 26 from the full line position to the dotted line position as shown in FIG 3 by means of a connecting rod 37 and the crank arm 36. A conventional double acting air cylinder 44 is bolted or otherwise fixed to the attaching plate 19 and includes an actuating rod 46 having a rack 47 in mesh with `a pinion 48 fixed to the shaft 42. Thus, actuation of the air cylinder 44 to move the rack 47 to the extended position from the retracted position shown in FIG. 3 serves to swing the plate 26 to the dotted line position shown in FIG. 3. As will be understood from an inspection of FIG. 3, the stick or slat 29, resting on the base plate 1 with one end supported in the slot 27 and on the bracket 34, will be'moved from its diagonal position to the dropping position wherein the -stick is `aligned parallel with the left edge of the plate 1 as viewed in FIG. 3. The bracket 34 beneath the plate 26 serves to prevent the stick from tilting and sliding through the plate 26 until the stick is in the dropping position shown with one end resting on tab 28. This action takes place upon energization of the ail cylinder 44 to move the plate 26 to the dotted line position shown in FIG. 3. Since the end of the stick 29 remote from the plate 26 is unsupported once it passes over the edge of the plate 1, the free end of the stick immediately drops to surface of a stack of `lumber or other material 4 leaving the opposite end thereof supported on the tab 28. Upon reversing the direction of the air cylinder 44, the plate 26 is returned to its full line position shown in FIG. 3 at which time the tab 28 is pulled from beneath the supported end of the stick which then falls to the stack. Since the support bracket 34 is located beneath the plate 26 -and above the tab 28, the stick is prevented from being moved from its dropping position so that the tab 28 is allowed to merely slide from beneath the end of the stick.

In order to provide a constant downward pressure on the stick 29 as it moves from the initial position to the drop position, the pressure plate 49 is located beneath the guard 12 and is generally flat in figuration with a slightly upwardly curved leading edge 51, as illustrated in FIG. 6, to facilitate passage of the stick. The plate 49 is suspended from the guard 12 by means of the vertical posts 52 with a constant bias being applied to the pressure plate by means of the springs 53 surrounding the posts -52 shown in FIGS. 6 and 8. The stick is thus prevented yfrom being thrown out of the device by the rather rapid action of the air cylinder 44 when the plate 26 is caused to swing about its axis of rotation. In addition to the structure thus far described, a plurality of tabs or the like 54 may be fixed to the arm 7 to provide support for the stick cartridge later to be described.

As 4shown in FIG. 1, the sticks or slats 29 are supplied from a vertical stack held by a cartridge assembly indicated generally at S6. The cartridge 56 comprises a generally rectangular frame having vertical side channels 57 and longitudinal bottom brace shown in detail in FIG. 10. Other bracing such as the diagonal braces 59 may be provided for the frame of the cartridge to maintain it rigid. The -bottom braces 58 `are provided With clips 61 which engage the top side of the guard 12 and support the weight of the cartridge and sticks carried thereby. Similar clips may be provided on the opposite side of the cartridge 54 for support. The frame structure of the cartridge is preferably made from 4a light weight material such as aluminum or the like. The bottom ends of the channels 57 are open as illustrated in FIG. 10 to allow the bottom sticks to be removed by ejector means presently to be described. The bottom ends Of the channel 57 are also provided with inwardly directed portions 62 for supporting the stack of sticks. In order to provide "a downward feed of the sticks, a longitudinal member 63, having its ends guided by the channels 57 is located on top of the stack of sticks. A strap 64 of spring material is anchored to the brace 58 yand extends upwardly and is wound about the mid-portion of the cross member 63 so as to provide a constant downward tension on the sticks.

As viewed in FIG. 1, the cartridge 56 extends along one longitudinal edge of the guard 12 and is supported from the guard by means of the clips 61 which engage the edge of the 4guard and the members 54. The clips 61 are clamped in place by means of the clamp structures "66. The clamps 66 may be any conventional type of clamp such as the over-center toggle clamp shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings which includes the pivot arm 67, adjustable pressure foot 68 and rotating lever 169. Thus the cartridge 56 may be filled and clamped to the device by means of theclamp y66 and the clips 61 with the bottom of the cartridge overlying the swingable plate 26.

Means whereby the bottom stick in the cartridge 56 may be ejected from the cartridge and into position ready for placing is shown most clearly in FIG. 3. A first ejector arm 71 is welded to one corner of the swingable plate 26 as viewed in FIGS. 3 and 9 so as to be located in the plane .of the bottom stick in the cartridge 56. When the plate 26 is rotated to the dotted line position shown in FIG. 3, the ejector arm 71 is caused to rotate clockwise from beneath the cartridge so-as to allow the next succeeding stick in the stack to drop down. A second ejector arm 72 is pivotally connected to the hood 12 by the pivot pin 73 and is also located in the plane of the bottom stick of the cartridge. An adjustable connecting rod 74 is pivoted at one end to the ejector arm 72 by the pivot pin 76 and to the ejector arm 71 at its other arm by means of the pin 77. With this structure, the ejector arm 72 is caused to rotate clockwise about the pin 73 concurrently with the movement of the plate 26 and the ejector arm 71. The ejector arms 71 and 72 pivot from beneath the cartridge 56 simultaneously with the movement of the plate 26 to allow the next succeeding stick to drop to the bottom of the cartridge. Upon return of the plate 26 to the full line position shown in FIGS. 3 and 9, the ejector arms 71 and 72 are again rotated counter-clockwise so as to remove the bottom stick from the cartridge onto the plate 1 and within the cutout 27 by the time the plate 26 and arm 33 are in the full line position shown in FIG. 3. The device then is ready for another cycle.

The device will be more fully understood by a complete description of its operation. It will be understood that the stick placer apparatus is securely mounted to a supporting structure above a stack of lumber or the like 4 being formed as illustrated in FIG. 3. The plate 26 and the arm 33 are moved to the dotted line position so that the cartridge 56 may be clamped in position by means of the clamps 66 and the clips 61. After the cartridge is in place, the cylinder 44 is reversed to retract the rack member 47 which returns the plate 26 and the arm 33 to the full line position as shown in FIG. 3. With the rotation of the plate 26, the ejector arm 71 and '72 are simultaneously rotated counter-clockwise so as to contact the bottom stick in the cartridge and to eject the same to the position shown in FIG. 3. In this position, the stick rests on the plate 1 with one end thereof being located in the cutout 27 and on the support bracket 34. When the stick is to be placed onthe stack, the air cylinder 44 is actuated so as to extend the rack 47 which swings the plate 26 to the dotted line position while simultaneously retracting the ejector arms 71 and 72. Retraction of the arms 71 and 72 allows the next stick to drop down in position for ejection upon return of the ejector arms. As long as the rack 47 is in the extended position, the stick will rest with one end on a stack and the other end being supported by the tab 28. When the cylinder 44 is reversed so as to retract the rack 47, the

plate 26 returns to the full line position and, since the bracket 34 is located beneath the plate 26, the end of the stick supported by the tab 28 remains stationary while the tab 28 is removed trom beneath it. As the tab 28 is moved from beneath the end of the stick, that end of the stick then also falls vertically to the stack. As the plate 26 returns to the full line position, the ejector arms 71 and 72 also return to the full line position as shown in FIG. 3 ejecting the next stick to be placed. Thus the sequence may be repeated until all of the sticks 29 in the cartridge are ejected, at which time the cartridge may be removed and refilled.

It will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention provides novel and useful improvements in stick placer apparatus of the character described. The arrangement and types of structural co-mponents utilized within the invention may be subjected to numerous modilications well within the purview of this invention and applicant intends only to be limited to a liberal interpretation of the specilication and appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A stick placer apparatus for placing an elongated stick or the like at a predetermined position on a stack comprising; means to support an elongated stick in a first position in a substantially horizontal plane above said stack, swingable pusher means for engaging said stick in said first position and moving the same off of said support means to a drop position with one end thereof being allowed to drop to said stack, means on said pusher means to support the other end of said stick while said pusher means is in the drop position, means to move said pusher means between said iirst and drop positions, the other end of said stick being released upon return of the pusher means from the drop to the rst position.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 including, stick dispensing mechanism, said mechanism having cartridge means for supplying a plurality of sticks, and means controlled by the operation of said pusher means for dispensing a stick from said cartridge to said rst position adjacent said pusher means upon return movement of the pusher means to said tirst position.

3. An apparatus for placing an elongated stick or the like at a predetermined position on a stack comprising: swingable pusher means, said pusher means being movable in a substantially horizontal plane between a drop position and a return position, means to support a stick adjacent said pusher means in the return position so as to be contacted thereby, means to move said pusher means from said return position to the drop position to move the stick off of the support means and to allow one end thereof to drop freely on to said stack, the other end of said stick being supported by said pusher means in the drop position; and means to release the other end of said stick upon movement ot said pusher means to the return position, whereby said stick is released one end at a time in said predetermined position.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3 including, stick dispensing mechanism, said mechanism having cartridge means for supplying a plurality of sticks, and means controlled by the operation of said pusher means for dispensing a stick from said cartridge to said iirst position adjacent said pusher means upon return movement of the pusher means to said return position.

5. An apparatus for placing an elongated stick or the like at a predetermined position comprising; a base plate providing a substantially horizontal support surface, ejector means including a swingable plate and an elongated pusher arm carried thereby, means to mount said ejector means for swinging motion of said pusher arm between a return position above said support surface and a drop position along one side of said base plate, means to move said ejector means in a substantially horizontal plane from the return position to the drop position, said swingable plate including a cutout portion for receiving one end of the stick to be dropped with support tab means associated therewith, whereby one end of said stick is supported by said tab in the drop position, said tab being removed from the end of the stick upon movement of the ejector means to the return position, whereby a stick is dropped one end at a time from said apparatus, and dispensing means for depositing a stick adjacent said pusher arm and within said cutout when said ejector means is moved to the return position.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5 including, means carried by said apparatus for constantly biasing said stick against said support surface during movement thereof` between the return position and the drop position.

7. The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said dispensing means comprises; a cartridge for supplying a plurality of sticks, means to detachably mount said carriage adjacent said pusher arm in the return position, and means connected to be operated by said ejector means for dispensing a stick from said carriage to a position to be moved by said ejector means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,058,144 4/1913 Blank 221-238 1,543,737 6/1925 Thornton.

1,705,570 3/ 1929 Horstkotte.

2,603,253 7/1952 Leash 221--238 2,969,892 1/ 1961 Sherman 214-1 GERALD M. F ORLENZA, Primary Examiner, J. OLDS, Assistant Examiner, 

1. A STICK PLACER APPARATUS FOR PLACING AN ELONGATED STICK OR THE LIKE AT A PREDETERMINED POSITION ON A STACK COMPRISING; MEANS TO SUPPORT AN ELONGATED STICK IN A FIRST POSITION IN A SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL PLANE ABOVE SAID STACK, SWINGABLE PUSHER MEANS FOR ENGAGING SAID STICK IN SAID FIRST POSITION AND MOVING THE SAME OFF OF SAID SUPPORT MEANS TO A DROP POSITION WITH ONE END THEREOF BEING ALLOWED TO DROP TO SAID STACK, MEAN ON SAID PUSHER MEANS TO SUPPORT THE OTHER END OF SAID STICK WHILE SAID PUSHER MEANS IS IN THE DROP POSITION, MEANS TO MOVE SAID PUSHER MEANS BETWEEN SAID FIRST AND DROP POSITIONS, THE OTHER END OF SAID STACK BEING RELEASED UPON RETURN OF THE PUSHER MEANS FROM THE DROP TO THE FIRST POSITION. 